Man lived with body of murdered lover for weeks

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A 39-year-old man has been arrested in Graz after police discovered the body of his girlfriend wrapped in plastic and hidden in the shower cubicle of their rented apartment. The body had been there for weeks.

Detectives believe the 44-year-old woman was murdered in mid-September. "The corpse was in a severe state of decay, so we have not been able to ascertain the cause of death so far", Christian Kroschl, a spokesman for the Graz public prosecutor said.

The woman's daughter, who lives in Munich, called the police last week, saying that she had not heard from her mother for weeks and was concerned for her safety. When police went to the apartment the 44-year-old woman shared with her partner they found the body in the shower.

Her partner was arrested on suspicion of murder. Local media reported that he may have killed her whilst under the influence of drugs, but Kroschl said he could not confirm this. The couple were known to be drug addicts and had lived together for three years in the apartment on Fröhlichgasse. Friends and family said they had often argued and had separated several times.